RIAD (SAUDI ARABIA) (ITALPRESS) – A debut with victory for Jasmine Paolini in the Purple Group of the Wta Finals in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). The 28-year-old tennis player from Tuscany, No. 4 in the world rankings and the first Italian player since 2015 to take part in the year-end Masters, won over Elena Rybakina, fifth in the Wta rankings, 7-6 (5) 6-4, bringing her to 3-2 in the direct comparisons with the Kazakh now coached by Goran Ivanisevic. “I’m so happy with the win, Elena plays incredible tennis, I’m glad she’s back on the circuit and it’s always difficult to face her – Paolini’s hot comment – I’m happy with how I handled the match, it wasn’t easy, it was the first time for me at the Finals and I’m so happy. I served quite well and also the response went well, I am happy with how I started the points. I was always low and fast, I played a solid match.” On Monday, the Italian, who is also present in the doubles tournament with Sara Errani, a lineup that won Olympic gold in Paris, will take the court again to face China’s Qinwen Zheng, who was defeated in the opener 6-3 6-4 by world number one, Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka.- Photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
